Deputy foreign minister Ivanka Tasheva received a copy of the credentials of Krum Efremov, North Macedonia's new ambassador to Bulgaria, the foreign ministry said.

Bulgaria confirmed that it backs North Macedonia's European integration if it fully meets its commitments under the 2017 treaty and the 2022 European consensus.

Tasheva welcomed Efremov and wished him a successful term. She said she hopes for real progress on all the issues raised. As an example, she pointed to the agreement between the two governments on preparing, building and running a cross-border railway tunnel, part of Corridor VIII. She said it shows what can be done when there is political will.

Tasheva said connectivity matters for the region's economic development and for ties between people on both sides of the border. People are the greatest asset, she said, and building these ties takes honest dialogue and respect, without provocations or hate speech.

Efremov said he wants relations between the two countries to grow through constructive dialogue and closer co-operation in trade, tourism, infrastructure and other areas.

In early October, foreign ministers Velislava Petrova and Timcho Mucunski met in Sofia at the international ministerial conference on Corridor 8. Petrova said there that Bulgaria has no expectations of North Macedonia other than those set down in 2022.